Tobacco smoke inhibitor

ABSTRACT

An ash receiver adapted to inhibit tobacco smoke which may accumulate therein. The device comprises an open-topped receptacle having a support adapted to receive and hold a lit tobacco product. Air for supporting combustion of the tobacco product will enter vent means in the lower base member. The receiver has a closure member for the upper portion of the opentopped receptacle. Said closure member conforms in size and shape to the lower base member and is hinged to said lower base member. Said members have cooperating members to hold the closure in a closed position. The receptacle includes liners for absorbing smoke produced by the product and thusly limit the amount of smoke which may pass out of a vent in a vertical wall of the lower base and closure member.

United States Patent Kosta 1 Nov. 25, 1975 TOBACCO SMOKE INHIBITOR Jeanette M. Kosta, PO. Box 5380, Darwin, N.T., Australia, 5794 221 Filed: Apr. 2, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 346,847

[76] Inventor:

OTHER PUBLICATIONS Form No. 39, P. 131, Rules of Practice in the US. Pa-

tent Office in Patent Cases.

Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich [57] ABSTRACT An ash receiver adapted to inhibit tobacco smoke which may accumulate therein. The device comprises an open-topped receptacle having a support adapted to receive and hold a lit tobacco product. Air for supporting combustion of the tobacco product will enter vent means in the lower base member. The receiver has a closure member for the upper portion of the open-topped receptacle. Said closure member conforms in size and shape to the lower base member and is hinged to said lower base-member. Said members have cooperating members to hold the closure in a closed position. The receptacle includes liners for absorbing smoke produced by the product and thusly limit the amount of smoke which may pass out of a vent in a vertical wall of the lower base and closure member.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent N0v.25, 1975 Sheet10f2 3,921,646

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet2of2 3,921,646

[FIGS TOBACCO SMOKE INHIBITOR SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The average smoker holds or rests his lit tobacco product for a much longer time than he spends puffing it. During the time the tobacco product is not being puffed, it billows forth smoke to which the nonsmoker, as well as the smoker, may be subject.

This invention discloses a device from which the usual billowing forth of smoke, and its undesirable constituents, emitted from a tobacco product may be reduced without essentially altering the taste of the tobacco product used with the device. The device serves to reduce the smoke by confining it in an enclosure having an absorptive liner and by having limited apertures from which the smokecan escape. The object of the device is accomplished by constructing a receiver of a durable substance which can withstand some degree of heat and which contains vents to provide adequate air circulation. Attached to the receiver are members to facilitate opening and closing. Within the receiver is a support and a lining of absorptive liner.

The object of the invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art after studying the accompanying drawings, detailed description and claim herein. The following detailed description and the drawings will serve to illustrate the invention. It is to be understood that such example is for that purpose only and is not to be considered as limiting the invention.

Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to reduce the usual billowing forth of smoke and its undesirable constituents, without essentially altering the taste of a smoking product used with device as disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the drawings forming a part of the specification,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a receiver according to the present invention in a partially open position,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the receiver shown in FIG. 1 in a closed position FIG. 3 is an end view of the device in a closed position, looking at the right end of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1 in a completely open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The device utilizes a rectangular shaped receiver, FIG. 1, 1, that comprises a base member and closure member having side and end walls with an open top and which may be constructed of a durable substance that offers some resistance to heat. The closure is held to the base member by a hinge 2 as shown in FIG. 1. The hinge 2 is of a type that can withstand frequent use. To enable the tobacco product to be inserted and removed quickly, the fastener 3 is of a type that facilitates opening and closing. The receiver 1 has air vents 5, in all the side walls as shown in FIG. 1. The receiver 1 has a base, FIG. 4, including supporting members 9, along each end so that it can be raised off the surface to allow for air circulation.

One end of the receiver 1 has a large centered air vent which may be round, FIG. 3, 4, and through which a little smoke will pass. The vents 5 aid in providing adequate air circulation for the combustion of the tobacco product. To allow up-draft air to flow into the receiver 1 for combustion of the tobacco product, the base member has a vent 6 which is positioned adjacent to the support 7 as shown in FIG. 1.

The support, FIG. 1, 7, which is mounted on the upper face of the base member, is' for holding the tobacco product. The support 7 has a width and shape as to properly support the product and a height such that the product will not come into contact with the absorptive liner 8 and impede burning. It is important thatthe tobacco product remain alight while thusly contained so that thesmoker will not have to relight the product each time it is desired to smoke. The support, 7, is positioned adjacent to the base member vent, 6, so that the burning part of the tobacco product has full advantage of the up-draft air flowing in through the base member vent, 6.

FIG. 5 illustrates the relative position of the support 7, and bottom vent, 6, with respect to the main vent 6, 4. Such positioning of the vents 6 and 4 and the support 7 provides an effective means of keeping the tobacco product alight, the smoke flowing through the receiver 1 while penetrating the absorptive liner 8, and the eventual passing of some smoke through the end wall vent 4.

The upper face of the base member, excluding the vent 6, and the lower face of the closure member comprising the receiver 1 is lined with material, FIG. 1, 8, prepared in a way that provides for high absorption. The liner 8 may be of the type used by tobacco manufacturers for filter tip products; for example, cellulose acetate which is a white, cottony material. Further, additives to this liner 8 will result in it having a capacity for such high absorption. Activated charcoal is well known for its ability to reduce toxic gases. If activated charcoal or the like were combined with the liner 8, particulates and gases could be reduced in the smoke that will issue from the end wall vent 4. If the liner 8, has been prepared to provide high absorption, it will trap most of the undesirable constituents of the smoke. Some of the smoke will eventually pass through the device and into the atmosphere.

In the use and operation of this invention, the receiver 1 is placed on a smooth flat surface, as a table or the like; or it may be held. When the fastener 3 is disengaged, the closure member of the receiver 1 can be opened. With the receiver 1 in an open position, a lit tobacco product is placed on the support 7 with the burning part toward vents 6 and 4. The closure member of the receiver 1 is then held closed by engaging the fastener 3. With the receiver 1 in the closed position, air for combustion of the enclosed tobacco product will flow into the receiver 1 through the base member vent 6. The tobacco smoke is confined in the closed receiver 1, shown in FIG. 2, except for a little smoke which will issue from an end wall vent 4. To puff on the product, the receiver 1 is put into an open position and the product, which is still alight, is removed from the support 7. The tobacco product is puffed on and then replaced on the support 7. Thereafter, the receiver 1 is put in a closed position in order to confine the smoke. When the tobacco product is finally consumed, the remains of the product is removed from the support 7. When not in use, this compact receiver 1 can be carried in a pocket or handbag.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that such detail is for that purpose only and that variations and modifications of the device may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An ash receiver adapted to inhibit tobacco smoke which may accumulate therein, comprising an opentopped receptacle having a planar lower base member adapted to be horizontally supported on a flat surface, said base member having vent means extending vertically therethrough, a liner covering the upper face of said member and adapted to remove undesirable material from tobacco smoke which may contact the same,

and a tobacco product support located adjacent to said vent means and adapted to support a lit tobacco product horizontally thereon such that the lit end thereof is positioned above said liner and in close proximity to i said vent means, and to said liner, vertically arranged first wall means surrounding said base member and having a notched portion, fastener and hinge means at 4 upper portions thereof, and a closure member for the upper portion of the open top of said receptacle, said closure member including a planar horizontal upper member conforming in size and shape with said base member, having a liner covering the lower surface thereof, and vertically arranged second wall means surrounding said upper member and having a notch, fastener and hinge means in lower portions of the same at the same locations as that in the upper portions of said first wall means, whereby a tobacco product may be placed upon said support, the receiver closed, air for contact the liners and pass out through the notched portions in said wall means, and means on the lower" face of said base member for supporting the receptacle above said flat surface whereby airmay, flow into and through said base member vent means. 

1. An ash receiver adapted to inhibit tobacco smoke which may accumulate therein, comprising an open-topped receptacle having a planar lower base member adapted to be horizontally supported on a flat surface, said base member having vent means extending vertically therethrough, a liner covering the upper face of said member and adapted to remove undesirable material from tobacco smoke which may contact the same, and a tobacco product support located adjacent to said vent means and adapted to support a lit tobacco product horizontally thereon such that the lit end thereof is positioned above said liner and in close proximity to said vent means, and to said liner, vertically arranged first wall means surrounding said base member and having a notched portion, fastener and hinge means at upper portions thereof, and a closure member for the upper portion of the open top of said receptacle, said closure member including a planar horizontal upper member conforming in size and shape with said base member, having a liner covering the lower surface thereof, and vertically arranged second wall means surrounding said upper member and having a notch, fastener and hinge means in lower portions of the same at the same locations as that in the upper portions of said first wall means, whereby a tobacco product may be placed upon said support, the receiver closed, air for supporting combustion will enter the vent means in the base member, and smoke issueing from the product will contact the liners and pass out through the notched portions in said wall means, and means on the lower face of said base member for supporting the receptacle above said flat surface whereby air may flow into and through said base member vent means. 